The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-25

There still remains the duty levied on i'm
ported goods, and in the mode of doing this lies
the main issue between the Repu blcan and
Democratic parties. Both parties concede that
taxes or duties on goods imported from foreign
countries must be. as they have been in the past,
the main source of national revenue. The Demo
cratic party claim, however, that they shall be
levied for revenue only. while the Republican
party claim that while levied for revenue they
should be so adjusted as 20 protect, foster and
encourage American industry The domestic
production OF manufactured articles in the
United States for the year 1886 is roundly es-
timated at 50 500, 000 coo. of which amount about
half, 81, 800 000 900 are domestic articles
which compete with foreign productions. The
amount Of importations from abroad, in 1886,
was Of the value of $625. 000.0 900 The revenue
received from the dntes these articles
amounted to 5l8S. 600 900. making an average
rate of duty of about 80 per cent The general
idea of the Democratic party is to levy these
duties by such q rate approaching an
would produce the requisite revenue
The Republican idea is practically embodied
in the tariff laws they now exist, and perhaps
the best way in which can illustrate the differ
enc~ between the two parties is by stating these
ruies and explaining the reason for them. Of
the $625 900. 600 of goods imported, $211 600 000
or more than one-third. are admitted duty
free. The remaining $4l4 900 900 are subject to
dntes varying from 10 per cent. to over 100 per
cent 1t is the general policy OF the law to ad-
NIT free of duty all articles of foreign produc-
ton that cannot be produced in this country for
which We have not the natural soil and climate.
end yet which are 10 common use in every fam
Iy here-such AS tea, coffee. and similar articles
The second rule is to admit free of duty all raw
articles which cannot be produced in this coun-
try ard the necessary basis of domestic
manufactures; such articles as chemicals indigo,
sulphur inoia rubber, raw silk. and the like,
are admitted free of duty. Under this provision
perhaps 500 articles, described in sixteen pages
of the document hold in my hand being the
annual report Of imported merchandise entered
for consumption in the United States for the
year 1886, admitted free of duty On the re-
naming articles of import, embracing probably
more than one thousand IN number the whole
customs duties are collected amounting to $685.
100000. These are classified into: First, luxu-
ries, consisting of wines. liquors and cigars
ticies consumed mainly by the rich, which pay
duty At n rate approaching or above 100 per cent.
These are articles which cannot be readily SNUG
gled, can be certainly described, and yield
large revenue. Jewelry diamonds and the like
are articles Of luxury upon which the highest
iuty is levied that can be collected, but as they
easily concealed the person, and there
.-ore, easily smugged, rates of duty are imposed
upon them as high as experience shows can be
collected. There are also classed as luxuries
large amount of expensive dress goods such
silks. fine cloths. satins furbelows, and the
like mainly for gentlemen's and ladies' wear,
which also pay high rate OF
duty, and are purely articles of luxury
or ornamentation consumed Dy the rich.
The next class of articles those which enter
into competition with domestic manufactures,
such as cotton goods linen goods. wooden goods
and nnumerable articles made out of metal
and also raw articles like iron, coal and similar
natural products. Upon these articles are levied
such duty as will. without destroying competi-
tiop, give to the domestic manufacturers of
similar articles what may be called a protective
duty. ranging from 25 to IS per cent. sufficient
to encourage their manufacture in this country
and thus to increase and diversity produc-
- IL A.
variety of articles which come into competition
with the productions OF the farmer and the
planter Among these are wool, live animals
wheat and various forms of grain, sugar, rice
and other productions of the South. On these
such duty is levied as will encourage our
farmers ID producing every article of agriculture
suited to our climate and soil. Under these
general groupings may be classed all the num-
erous articles embraced in the tariff, with duties
on each carefully adjusted for the protection of
home industry.
''rhis protective policy has been recommend
cd by every President of the United States prior
to Martin Van Buren,, and by statesmen of all
sections brit was never put into effective force
until the ascendency OF the Republican party.
in 1861. The first really protective tariff was
passed in tho closing hours OF Mr. Buchanans
administration, and is purely Republican
measure though signed by him. We have had
experience of twenty five years under
this system and we can judge of its effects by
actual results In 1860 the total manufactures
OF the u nlted states were estimated at UUU,
600, including every variety of mechanical en-
ployment. AS have already stated, these have
increased to over So, 600 0Q0 600 in value-nearly
fve-fold in quaniity-and they include every
article essential to human life. In the prodnc-
ton of ali these articles there is now free trade
and close competition in the United States and
the price has been greatly reduced on all of
them. They embrace almost every article used
on the farm. in the work shop. and in nine
tehths of the families of the United States
Our industry is SO diversified that there
is hardly object of desire outside OF
Injuries of the rich that is not produced in the
United States and our home industries are rap
idly dispacjng the foreign articles Of similar
character and quality. Formerly manufactures
were confined to small region of the country
mainly in New ENGLAND and the East. and now
these manufactures diffused all over the
United States, especially In the North and rap
idly extending to the South, especially to Ten
nessee and Alabama. In this way we bring to
gether the consumer and the producer of nearly
all the articles necessary to human life and hap
piness We give to the farmer home marke
for home productions, so that now of all tht
products of the farm, over 80 per cent. is con
sumed in this country, and less than 10 per cent
exported abroad, though the aggregate OF ex
portatiops of food products amounts to nearl!
$500, 900, 0C0 In this way. also, we secure to thu
laboring man far better wages than are paid il
any country of Europe; enable him to b.
self-reliant and self-respecting to educate hi
children, and to enjoy the substantial comfort
Of life. 1t is this system, by which our indus
tries have been increased and diversified, whicl
makes this country compared to others. tn
strongest, the richest and happiest among tn
nations of the world.
''You in Tennessee are now beginning to en-
Joy the benefits of this system. You have, per
haps, in your State greater variety Of natura
resources than any other. The great division
Of your Stat furnish ali the essential raw ele
ments of human manufacture You have store
in East and Middle Tennessee boundess fields @
coal, iron. timber and marble, with beautifu
valleys and running streams. You have in Mid
die Tennessee broader and richer valleys, an
land admirable for all the cereals-corn. whea
and the fruits of the earth-whle in Wester
Tennessee you have the deep alluvial valley q
the Mississippi and the Tennessee, capable q
producing cotton and the chief products Of
semi-tropical climate. You are as deeply intel
ssted in the tariff question Pennsylvania, fo
there is nothing in me way Of natural reeourcs